Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



Feb. 19, 1957 A. LORENZ 297819824 ARTICLE OF' REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 6420 2E) 26 o40 50 le gag/.g

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INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Feb. 19, 1957 A. LORENZ 781,824

ARTICLE OP REPOSP: POR SUPPORTING THE BODY OP A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR FINT'ON LO REN 'Z ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 A, LORENZ 2,781,824

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 QNTON LORENZ ATTO R N EY United States Patent G ARTICLE UF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY F A PERSON Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,737

13 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to articles of furniture, and more particularly to reclining articles of furniture wherein a structure including a seat and a back-rest coordinated with each other in respect to their movements is rockably mounted on a support.

An object of the invention is to provide a leg-rest control arrangement in a reclining article of furniture Iof the type described above by means of which on one hand the leg-rest is swung upwardly and on the other hand is advanced forwardly when the back-rest and seat of the article of furniture are moved from the sitting position into the reclined position, so that the supporting portion of the leg-rest in the elevated position of the latter is extended to such a degree that a full'support of the legs of a tall person resting on the article of the furniture is assured.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the construction of articles of repose for supporting the body of a person, as customarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction withf the accompanying drawings forming part of this specication, wherein: n p

Fig. l isa side elevational view ofa reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a different embodiment of a reclining chairaccording to theinvention, a portion of a side frame being` broken away',

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of another embodiment of a reclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away.

' Fig. 4 is a side Velevational view of arfurther embodiment of a reclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being brokenvaway,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a reclining chair according tothe invention', a portion of a side frame being broken away, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a .further embodiment of a reclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away. y

1 ,Referring nowto Fig. 1, 10 generally indicatesa sup-v port comprising two side frames A1.2 and 14 connected with each other by a transverse rod 16.

A.` back-rest member 18 including a downwardV extension 20 iswswingably mounted on said supportv 10 at 22. The rear end portion of a seat 24 is likewise pivoted to the'support 10 at 22. The rear end portion of a lower connecting link 26 is pivoted t-o the downward extensionV 20 of the back-rest 1S at 28. The front end portion of the connecting link 26 ispivoted at 30 to a front connecting link or controlling link 32 pivoted at its upper end to the seat 24 at 34. A guiding link 36isfpivoted 2,781,824 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 vlower connecting link 26, the front connecting link 32 and the guiding link 36 form the movable members of a constrained linkage which includes the portion of the support between the pivots 22 and 355 as a stationary link.

The front connecting link or controlling link 32 extends downwardly beyond the pivot 30 between said link 32 and the lower connecting link 26. The upper end of a controlling link 42 is pivoted to the seat 24 at the point 44 spaced from the pivotal connection 34 between the seat 24 and the controlling link 32.

The controlling link 32 has an extension 50 rigid therewith. The rear end portion of a controlling bar 4 6 is pivoted at 48 to said extension Sil of the controlling link 32. An intermediate point of the controlling bar 46 is pivoted at 52 to an intermediate point of the controlling link 42, so that said controlling link 42 and said controlling bar d6 cross each other. The front end portion of the controlling bar i6 .is pivoted at 54 to a leg-rest 56. At the point 58 below the pivot 54 the leg-rest 56 is pivo-ted to the front end portion of another controlling bar oli. The rear end portion of said controlling bar is pivoted at 62 to the lower end of the controlling link 42.

When the back-rest 13 is moved from the sitting position, shown in full lines, into the extreme reclined position 18', shown in dash-and-dot lines, the linkages described above, cause a movement of the seat 24 into the position 24',l while at the same time the leg-rest 56 is swung upwardly and propelled forwardly into the position 54. l

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 64 attached to the support 10 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by another stop 66 mounted on the support 1ti.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the back-rest member 11S and the seat 124 are swingably mounted on the support at spaced points 122 and 123 respectively. Again a lower connecting link 126 is piv'oted to the back-rest member 11S at 125, to the guiding link 136 at 144) and to the front connecting link or controlling link 132 at 13d. The guiding link 13o is pivoted to the support 110 at'138 and the controlling link 132 is pivoted to the seat 124 at 134.

The other controlling link 142 is pivoted to the scat 124 at the point 14d which is located between the pivotal connections 123 and 134 of the seat 124 with the support 110 and the controlling link'132 respectively. The first controlling bar 146 is pivoted to the controlling link 14E-2, the controlling link 132 and the leg-rest 156 at the spaced points 148, 152 and 154, and the second controlling bar is pivoted to the controlling link 132 and tothe legrest 156 at the spaced points 162 and 153. a The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by a stop 164 mounted onthe supportr'11li', and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-anddot lnes,`is limited port 110.

Again, during a movement of the movable members of the -chair from the sitting position into Athe reclined position, the leg-rest 156 is swung upwardly and is moved awayrfrom the front end ofthe seat 124.

According to the Vembodiment shown `in Fig. 3,Y the body supporting means comprising the back-rest mem ber 218 and the seatr224 are pivoted to thesupport 210 by a-stopY 16o attached to the supat 222. One end of a connecting link 227 is pivotedat 228 to the downward extension 220 of the back-rest member 218. The other end of said connecting link 22'7 is pivoted at 241 to a controlling member 263 swingably mounted on the support 21) at 239. The lower end of another connecting link 233 is pivoted to said controlling member 268 at 270. The upper end of said controlling link 237` is pivoted to the seat 224 at 231. The seat 224, the back-rest member 218, the connectinglink 227, the controlling member 26S and the connecting link 233 form the movable members of a constrained linkage, the stationary link of which is included into the support 210 between the pivots 222 and 239.

A first controlling link 242 and a second controlling link 243 are pivoted to the seat 224 at spaced points 234 and 244 respectively. The first controlling bnr 246 is pivoted to the first controlling link 242, the second controlling link 243 and the leg-rest 256 at spaced points 248, 252 and 254 respectively. The second controlling bar 260 is pivoted to the second controlling link 243 and to the leg-rest 256 at the points 262 and 258. A link 272 is pivoted at spaced points 274 and 276 to the controlling member 268 and to the second controlling link 243 respectively.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines, is limited by a transverse rod 265 of the support 21) arranged for abutting engagement with the seat 224.

The extreme reclined position of the movable mem bers of the chair, shown in dash-and-dot lines, is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 218 against the upper edge 267 of the rear walllof the support 210.

During a movement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position into the reclined position, the leg-rest 256 is swung upwardly and propelled away from the seat 224.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the backrest member 313 is swingably mounted on the sup port 3l() at 322. The rear end portion of the seat 324 is pivoted to the back-rest 318 at 321at a point above the pivotal connection 322 of the back-rest 31S with the support 310. A guiding link 335 swingably mounted on link 342 and to the downward extension 320 of the backrest member 318 at the spaced points 377 and 32S respectively. The first controlling bar 346 is pivoted to the first controlling link 342, the second controlling link 343* and the leg-rest 356 at the spaced points 348, 352 and 354 respectively. The second controlling bar 360 is pivoted to the second controlling link 343 and to the leg-rest 356 at 362 and 35S respectively. p

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by the stop 365 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-and-dot lines, is limited by the upper edge 367 of the rear wall of the support 310.

A movement of the movable members of the chair from the sitting position into the reclined position dis places the leg-rest 356 upwardly `and away from the seat 324. p t

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, th back-rest 418 and seat 424 are swingably mounted on the support 410 at 422. The upper end ofa controlling member 469 in the shape of a bell-crank swingably mounted on the support 410 at 439 is pivoted at 478 to a top connecting link 480 forming an arm-rest. The rear end of the top connecting link 480 is pivoted to the backrest 418 at 482. y

Again, the leg-rest control comprises a lirstcontrolling 7 link 442- and a` second controlling link 443 pivoted to the seat 424 at spaced points 434 and 444 respectively. The first controlling bar 446 is pivoted to the first controlling link 442, the second controlling link 443 and thc leg-rest 456 at the points 44S, 452 and 454 respectively. Yihe second controlling bar 46) is pivoted to the second controlling link 443 and the"v leg-rest 456 at 462 and 458 respectively. The first controlling link 442 is pivoted at 484 to one end of a connecting link 472, the other end of which is pivoted to the lower arm of the controlling member 469 at 475.

Thus, upon a movement of the back-rest 41S from the sitting position, shown in full lines, into the reclined positionshown in dash-and-dot lines, the leg-rest 456 is lifted and moved forwardly from its position shown in lull lines into the position shown in dash-and-dot lines.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the seat 424 against a transverse bar 465 of the support 410, and the extreme reclined position of said movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 418 against a stop 466 mounted on the support 410.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6; the baclorest 518 and the seat 524 are swingably mounted on the support 510 at 522. One end of a connecting link 527 is pivoted to the downward extension 520 of the back-rest518 at 528. The other end of said connecting link 527 is pivoted at 541 to the controlling member 568 swingably mounted on the support 510 at 539. The controlling member 568 is in the shape of a bell-crank lever Vcarrying rollers 586 and 588 at the ends of its arms. The

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by the abutment of the seat 524 against the stop 565 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-anddot lines, is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 518 against the edge 567 of the rear wall of the support 510.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changesin shape and proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown andtdescribed may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Each of the embodiments shown in the drawings may be provided with locking means for holding the movable members of the chair in any desired position.

What 1 claimis:

l. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage including at least one stationary link and at least three movable links, said stationary link being included in said support, a first movable link of said constrained linkage constituting a seat, a second movable link of said constrained linkage constituting a backrest, said constrained linkage including a first controlling link pivoted to` said seat,` a second controlling link pivoted to saidV seat, a leg-rest, a firstcontrolling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest and a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second controlling linkgand said leg-rest, said first con- H trolling bar and said second controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, and a movable link of said constrained linkage other than said seat and back rest being in operative engagement with one of said two controlling links for etiecting movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in dependence on coordinated movements of the movable links of said constrained linkage.

v2. In an article of repose as claimed in claim l, said last mentioned movable link of the constrained linkage being pivotally engaged `with one of said controlling links.

3. In an article of`repose as claimed in claim l, said last mentioned movable link of the constrained linkage being in abutting engagement with one of said controlling links.

4. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary linlomeans being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a second connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one connecting link of said chain of connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to said back-rest member, said second connecting link being pivoted to said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, a controlling link pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second connecting link, said controlling link and said leg-rest, and a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection con necting same with each other.

5. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-restmember, guiding means and a chain of connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a second connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one connecting link of said chain of connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to said back-rest member, said second connecting link being pivoted to said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, a controlling link pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said controlling link, said second connecting link and said leg-rest, and a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second connecting link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second connecting link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other.

6. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, body supporting means including a back-rest structure and a seatstructure movable relative to each other, said body sup porting means being swingably mounted kon said support, a controlling member swingably mountedv on said support, a connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said back-rest structure and to said controlling member, first means positioned between said swingable controlling member and said seat-structure to effect movement of said seat-structure in coordination with said controlling member, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to 'said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, and second means positioned between said Vswingable controlling member and one lof said two controlling links to effect movement of the latter and of said leg-rest in coordination with said controlling member.

7. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said rst means including a second connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said controlling member and to said seat-structure. .y

8. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said second means including a link pivoted at spaced points to said' controlling member and one ofr said'lcontrolling links. N

9. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a backrest structure pivoted to said support, a seat, the rear end portion of said seat being pivoted to said yback-rest structure at a point above the pivotal connection between said back-rest structure and the support, a guiding link pivoted at spaced points to said support and to said seat, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a rst controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said rst controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second con trolling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, and means positioned between said back-rest structure and one of said two controlling links to effect movement 4of the latter and of said leg-rest in coordination with said back-rest structure.

l0. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said first means including cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on said controlling member and` on said seatstructure. l

ll. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said second means including cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on said controlling member and one of said controlling links.

12. An improved legt-rest and control arrangement for use in a chair including a support and body supporting means having a seat and a back-rest rockably mounted on said support for rearward movement into a reclined position, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest disposed adjacent the forward Vend of said seat, a first four-bar linkage having two spaced apart pivotal connections to said leg-rest and including as one link thereof the portion `of said leg-rest intermediate said pivotal connections, a

second four-bar linkage connected to and carrying said first four-bar linkage, said second four-bar linkage having two spaced apart pivotal connections to said seat for movement therewith, said second .four-bar linkage including as one link thereof the portion of said seat intermediate said pivotal connections,'at least one link of Vsaid first four-bar linkage having a portion common with a link of said second four-bar linkage, and linkage means coupling said back-rest to 4one of said four-bar linkages for raising said leg-rest to an extended position substantially at the level of said forward end of said seatrwhen the back-rest is rocked rearwardly toward said reclined position, said linkage means being operative on said seat for coordinating movement of said seat to movement of said back-rest. v

13. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for use in a chair including a support and bodysupporting means having a seat and a back-rest rockably mounted on said support, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest disposed adjacent the forward end of said seat, a iirst link pair including a first link pivotally supported on said 'seat and a second ylink pivotally carried by said first link, a second link pairincluding a third link pivotally supported on said seat and ,a fourth `link pivotally .carried by said third link, one link ,of .said rst pair having a pivotal connection to one link .of said second pair, said second and fourth links being connected to and supporting said leg-rest at spaced points thereof, said rst link, said third link, the portion of said seat between the pivotal connections of said iirst and third linkS `to said seat and a further ,portion of said first link pair constituting a first four-,bar linkage, said second link, ,said fourth link, the portion `of said leg-rest between Vthe pivotal connections of said second and fourth links to said leg-rest and a further portion of said sectond link pair constituting a second four-bar linkage, and linkage means coupled ,to said back-rest and to one of said link pairs for coordinating movement of said seat and leg-rest to movement of said back-rest.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pope Sept, 18, 1877 Norcross July 24, 1900 Laurich Dec. 1, 1914 Spear Jan. 5, 1954 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden May 13, 1905 Italy Ian. 31, 1940 

